The impact of continued decline in the international oil price has dragged down growth indices in the Nigerian economy in the second quarter, 2015. According to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, released yesterday, Gross Domestic Product, GDP, expanded 2.35 percent on an annual basis, compared with 3.96 percent a quarter earlier. Quarter on quarter, real GDP increased by 2.57 percent.

Egypt has withdrawn its men’s Under-23 team and women’s senior team from the 2015 African Games, which will be held from 6-18 September in Brazzaville. The rules state that the Organising Committee could replace a team with the opponent it eliminated. However, Senegal (Women) and Burundi (Men) decided not to take up a spot because of the short notice period. It means both the men’s and women’s competition will have one group of three teams and one group of four.

By 2050, Nigeria, currently the seventh most populous country in the world, will rise to the fourth spot with an estimated 397 million people, the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), a Washington-based organisation that informs people around the world about population, health, and the environment has said.

The nominees for appointment into the Governing Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, forwarded to the state House of Assembly by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa have been confirmed by the state legislature.

There was a mild drama in the premises of Evbuoriaria Magistrate’s Court, Benin, yesterday, as soldiers stormed the court and freed four suspects brought for arraignment by officials of the Edo State War Against Indiscipline, WAI.

Nigerian U-23 striker, Taiwo Awoniyi will miss the All Africa Games. He has travelled out to Liverpool for medicals, prior to his signing for the English premier league club. Awoniyi, is part of coach Samson Siasia plans for the Games, which begin on September 4. But according to the team’s spokesman, Timi Ebikaboro the former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles star has not been with the team, training in Port Harcourt.

Spokesman for the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Eric Omare, has described agitations by Niger Delta activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor over the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, as misplaced.

In its effort to curb the activities of pipeline vandals operating at Ikorodu in Lagos State, men of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalism have arrested 11 suspected vandals, including managers of three petrol stations in the area.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, yesterday, challenged the legality of allowing the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress Party, APC, in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, to scan or photocopy the ballot papers used for the conduct of the April 11 governorship poll in the state.

Mr. Sergius Ogun is a member of the House of Representatives representing Esan North-East/Esan South-East federal constituency of Edo State.

With the Benue State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, resuming sitting on September 7, 2015, it has becomes important to examine the critical issues and facts before the tribunal, which must be resolved before the people of Benue State know their authentic elected governor.

Mr Sam Uhuotu is the newly elected Chairman of the Kogi State Chapter of the PDP. In this interview Uhuotu expressed confidence the party would win the forthcoming governorship election.

Ile-Ife—COUNCIL of chiefs in Ile-Ife have sought divine intervention in the choice of the next monarch in the ancient town after the death of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. The chiefs led by Obalufe, Oba S. Omisakin and Lowa of Ile-Ife, High Chief, J. O Ijaodola yesterday prayed that God will crown another monarch of late Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s pedigree.

A team of investors from the United Arab Emirates, UAE, has disclosed plans to invest as much as $10 billion in the state economy soon.
The UAE team, led by Professor Pat Utomi, stated this during a courtesy visit to Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at the state House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Osagie Obayuwana is a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo state. He was also Vice President, Committee for Defence of Human Rights, CDHR.